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Serial robber sentenced to nearly 300 years in prison for OKC crime spree

A serial robber has been sentenced to nearly 300 years in prison for a 2016 crime spree in Oklahoma City.

Deondrea Deshawn Thompson, now 26, either robbed or attempted to rob seven convenience stores at gunpoint in July 2016. Oklahoma County jurors were shown store surveillance video of each incident during a trial this month.

Thompson hit five of the stores on the same day, making off with only hundreds of dollars, according to police. Many store clerks were able to identify Thompson as the robber due to his having “one blind eye,” police reported.

"Almost every single one of our victims commented on the fact that he had either a blind eye or a lazy eye," Assistant District Attorney Kelly Collins told The Oklahoman Wednesday. "Our witnesses were solid on their identifications. He was so unique looking that I don't think there was any question about it."

Collins also said Thompson's mannerisms, such as "hushing" the store clerks, stood out.

At the time of the crime spree, Thompson was on probation for robbing a convenience store in 2010. He robbed that same store again during the string of robberies in July 2016. He had been released from prison about two months before.

"The state of Oklahoma gave Deondrea Thompson a chance. He went to prison for committing a terrible armed robbery and got out, and then, a couple months later, robbed the exact same place and six other stores," Collins said. "Every single one of our victims was terrified for their lives."

At trial, jurors convicted Thompson of six counts of robbery with a firearm and two counts of attempted robbery with a firearm. During one robbery, Thompson also stole an employee's wallet, adding an additional robbery offense. The jury chose 35 years in prison as punishment for each of those counts.

Jurors also convicted Thompson of engaging in a pattern of criminal offenses and firearm possession. The jury chose seven years in prison for each of those counts.

At sentencing last week, District Judge Timothy Henderson ordered Thompson to serve the punishments consecutively — totaling 294 years in prison. For each robbery offense, Thompson must serve at least 85 percent of the term of his sentence.

Collins said Thompson apologized during the sentencing. He filed a notice of intent to appeal Tuesday.

In the 2010 case, Thompson's 13 years of probation were revoked after being charged in the 2016 case. He was ordered to serve that time in prison as punishment for violating his probation. The judge also ordered Thompson to serve that time consecutively with the 294-year punishment.

On July 11, 2016, Thompson robbed the first convenience store. During that robbery, he also stole an employee's wallet.

A week later, Thompson attempted to rob a second store. A store clerk, though, scared Thompson away by firing a warning shot into the ceiling.

On July 25, 2016, Thompson robbed four stores and attempted to rob another. He visited the stores within 12 hours that day, police reported.

Prosecutors said Thompson always pointed his gun at the clerks and, at some stores, at customers, as well. Cellphone tower data linked Thompson to the areas of the robberies, according to prosecutors.

A confidential informant initially identified Thompson as the serial robber, police reported. In August 2016, Thompson was arrested during a traffic stop.

Kyle Schwab has been a reporter for The Oklahoman newspaper since 2013. He currently covers Oklahoma City courts. He graduated from the University of Central Oklahoma with a major in journalism. He lives in Edmond.
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